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1997 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Nissan Altima are lower than the model-year median of 231.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
108Owner complaints

Model-year median: 231

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Nissan Altima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 108 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 35 reports
  • Electrical System: 14 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 9 reports
  • Power Train: 8 reports
  • Seat Belts: 8 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
106
1994180
199592
1996108
1997123
199887
1999160
2000
Compare all Altima years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
35Electrical System
14Unknown Or Other
9Power Train
8Seat Belts
8
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Structure
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Suspension
7Visibility
6Tires
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Wheels
2Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 20 of 108 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2009
Exterior Lighting

I OWN A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE PUT IN NEW HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY VERY DIM.. I HAD MY LENS CLEANED PROFESSIONALLY AND STILL THEY ARE DIM. I SEE THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE AMBER THING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. IS THIS A FACTORY RECALL? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND ON DISABILITY, SO MY INCOME IS VERY VERY LOW. THIS IS EXTREMEL…

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I OWN A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE PUT IN NEW HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY VERY DIM.. I HAD MY LENS CLEANED PROFESSIONALLY AND STILL THEY ARE DIM. I SEE THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE AMBER THING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. IS THIS A FACTORY RECALL? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND ON DISABILITY, SO MY INCOME IS VERY VERY LOW. THIS IS EXTREMELY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274071

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILURE- BOTH SIDES- FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT- REPLACED WENT OUT AGAIN SOON AFTER. LIGHTS ON HEATER GAUGES FAILED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER "FEMALE PART" PULLS OUT OF DASH WHEN YOU TAKE THE LIGHTER OUT. PASSENGER DOOR PANEL CAME OFF-KEEPS THE DOORS FROM UNLOCKING- TRIED TO FIX IT AND ENDED UP BEING LOCKED IN MY CAR IN TH…

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REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILURE- BOTH SIDES- FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT- REPLACED WENT OUT AGAIN SOON AFTER. LIGHTS ON HEATER GAUGES FAILED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER "FEMALE PART" PULLS OUT OF DASH WHEN YOU TAKE THE LIGHTER OUT. PASSENGER DOOR PANEL CAME OFF-KEEPS THE DOORS FROM UNLOCKING- TRIED TO FIX IT AND ENDED UP BEING LOCKED IN MY CAR IN THE RAIN FOR AN HOUR. BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED. ALSO ODOMETER IS JAMMED-HAS NEVER BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WAS BRINGING MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND I KNOW THAT IT IS A 10 MILE DRIVE-NONE OF THE NUMBERS ROLLED OVER. WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10095666

80,000 miles · Dec 22, 2003
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BECOMES CLOUDY AND MAKES THE LIGHTS VERY DIM AND HARD TO SEE WITH AT NIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10050955

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE T…

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CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE TWO SEALS ON THE REAR TAILIGHTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ODI #717608

Recall campaigns

1

96V185000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Oct 10, 1996

CERTAIN BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH A "BUCKLE BASE" THAT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS CAN CAUSE THE "BUCKLE BASE" TO BE BRITTLE FAILING TO COMPLY TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems

Nissan Altima electrical problems →Nissan Altima transmission problems →